Dividing and Conquering….Lessons in Community Building?

This week I have posted on “Life on the Divide” and The Caravan to Cuba.
Both posts have to do with building barriers – literally and figuratively.

In my career, I spend a fair amount of time working with young people to bridge the gap in places where there are obvious divides – culturally, religiously, socio-economically, generationally, intellecutally. It is so rewarding to see students come together from a variety of backgrounds and work on common things. Most of all, it is sheer joy to witness these students be accepting of each other regardless of who they are, how they dress and talk, what they look like, and what is their background.

In the adult world, I cannot say the same. What happens between youth and adult-hood? What happens when our elected officials get into office and get “power”? Look around. We are illegally occupying a country, talking of invading other countries, training terrorists to go back to their home countries and terrorize their citizens, building walls, and forbidding our own citizens to provide aid to citizens of other countries who are in need.

Is this “building community”?

It seems that everything I teach my students ultimately faces obstacles due to current policies of our government. As a result, while our planet is being destroyed by the wealthy adn greedy few, all efforts to remedy the destruction and meet the needs of the many are thwarted.

The many are being divided and conquered….not being supported to build communities.

More people have got to voice their opposition to these obstacles and policies that prevent life from flourishing and our planet from being preserved. Letters to your elected officials, to the editor of your newspaper, and better yet: run for office. Doing so is a great way to get your voice heard.

I’ve taken that step….will you? Our planet depends on all of us to take these very necessary steps.